Which public places have the most germs

Don't be trotting your kids off to your local playground once it opens back up. Not only did a Home Advisor study show that playgrounds were holding an average of 3. And a recent study from the New England Journal of Medicine found that plastic and stainless steel were two of the most susceptible surfaces for the coronavirus , able to hold the virus for up to three days. Not only is cash more difficult to sanitize than your credit or debit card, but you also might not want to be visiting the ATMs you typically use to access cash right now, either.

Public pools weren't the most most sanitary places to begin with, so it stands to reason that they won't all of a sudden become so in a post-pandemic world.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC , 35 percent of cases involving the parasite cryptosporidium in the past decade were linked to public swimming areas. All Rights Reserved.

Open side menu button. By Kali Coleman May 7, Best Life is constantly monitoring the latest news as it relates to COVID in order to keep you healthy, safe, and informed. Javascript must be enabled to use this site. Please enable Javascript in your browser and try again. Now Reading:. Membership My Account. Rewards for Good. Share with facebook. Share with twitter. Share with linkedin. Share using email. Lemon Wedges. Condiment Dispensers. Restroom Door Handles.

Soap Dispensers. Grocery Carts. Airplane Bathrooms. Photo by Getty Images Waiting room roulette: You could catch something while trying to get well. Doctors' Offices. Also of Interest Quiz: Are you at risk for diabetes? The cheapest weight-loss trick ever Quiz: How much do you know about credit and debt? More health information you can use Visit the AARP home page every day for great deals and for tips on keeping healthy and sharp.

Leaving AARP. Got it! Please don't show me this again for 90 days. Cancel Continue. Thank You. To keep makeup brushes clean, you can wash them once a week with regular soap and water, or also use an alcohol spray on the brushes. Due to the moisture from a hot shower, the bathroom is also a perfect place for germ growth. Spots you should pay special attention to include:.

You can wipe surfaces and handles down with disinfectant on a daily basis and do a thorough cleaning once a week. An old toothbrush may come in handy for cleaning small spaces like around drains and faucets.

You should also replace bathroom towels once a week and toothbrushes every 3 to 4 months. The new coronavirus is less likely to live in your shower, sink, or drains because soap and water are able to wash it away. But you should still disinfect all surfaces in your bathroom , especially if someone in your home has a SARS-CoV-2 infection or recovered from it. Transfer clean clothes to the dryer immediately after each wash.

If clothes sit in the washer for more than 30 minutes, you may want to run a second cycle. If using a laundry mat or a shared laundry facility, clean the washer drum with a disinfecting wipe.

Warm or hot water is also more effective in killing both bacteria and viruses like the new coronavirus than cold water. Remote controls, computer keyboards, phones, and tablets are often shared by multiple family members and house guests. In 22 households, the NSF found yeast and mold on the computer keyboard, remote control, and video game controller as well as staph on the last two items.

For example, a carpet can hold up to eight times its weight in dirt and dust and may be dirtier than a city street. And as discussed earlier, the new coronavirus can live on plastic remotes and keyboards for as long as 3 days. According to a study conducted by the NSF, pet bowls placed fourth in spots with the most germs in a home. Pet toys also carried staph, yeast, and mold. Pets and their bowls, toys, and beds can all carry the new coronavirus, too.

You can prevent your pets from bringing in dirt by washing or wiping their paws before letting them in. You can bring in bacteria and viruses from the outside to your house each day through your shoes, gym bag, and even headphones. The new coronavirus can also live on the surfaces for up to 3 days since most of these objects are made of plastic or metal.

Most disinfecting wipes are effective against bacteria and viruses, including the new coronavirus, on electronics. But if you want to be extra safe, you can find electronic-specific cleaning supplies at stores. One way of keeping bacteria and viruses from spreading is keeping things clean.

Use some of these common household items:.